Clippers fall to brink of elimination

April 30, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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The Clippers' Chris Paul is fouled by the Grizzlies' Mike Conley in the first half. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Grizzlies' Marc Gasol reacts to his foul call against the Clippers' Lamar Odom as Blake Griffin wraps him up during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Clippers' Lamar Odom fouls the Grizzlies' Tony Allen during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Clippers' Blake Griffin loses the ball in front of the Grizzlies' Tony Allen during the Clippers' 103-93 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Clippers' Blake Griffin look glum with the rest of the bench during the final minutes of the Clippers' 103-93 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Grizzlies' Marc Gasol tries to drive through the Clippers' Blake Griffin during the Clippers' 103-93 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Clippers' Chris Paul shoots the ball as the Grizzlies' Tayshaun Prince tries for the block during the Clippers' 103-93 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Grizzlies' Jerryd Bayless scores past the entire Clippers team to close out the third quarter of the Clippers' 103-93 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan tries to get past the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol during the Clippers' 103-93 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Grizzlies' Keyon Dooling is called for a blocking foul on the Clippers' Chris Paul during the Clippers' 103-93 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference quarterfinals at Staples Center Tuesday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul and his teammates have said the same thing since before Game 1: A playoff series doesn't begin until someone loses at home.

With the Clippers falling, 103-93, Tuesday night at Staples Center, the series with the Grizzlies finally has begun. And unless things change, it might not last long.

Before the game, Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said whoever won Game 5 would "probably" win the series. Four frustrating quarters later, Del Negro's players walked off the court with their heads low and their backs against the wall.

The Clippers have lost three straight to Memphis in the series, and now, they must win Game 6 on the road Friday to keep the series alive.

"We've done it before. We did it at the end of the season," Del Negro said. "We can't allow them to have 33 free throws. We've got to control the bigs a little bit better.

"We did some things (well) obviously – we rebounded a little bit better ourselves (but) we turned it over too much, got them to the free throw line. The second chance points and just different things they do so welll put a lot of pressure on us with their two bigs – Zach (Randolph) and Marc (Gasol), who control everything."

Paul did everything he could to keep the Clippers' chances alive, aggressively looking to score, but Gasol and Randolph, were too much, especially with the Clippers short-handed. Randolph scored 25 and Gasol added 21. Paul led all scorers with 35 points.

Paul had to carry more of the load with the Clippers' other superstar hobbled.

During Monday's practice before Game 5, Blake Griffin suffered a high right ankle sprain, landing on the foot of his teammate.

Griffin's mobility was severely limited, and Gasol left him on the block on a number of post moves.

The ankle was so bad Griffin left the game in the third quarter, not to return, finishing with four points, five rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes.

The Clippers and Memphis looked even throughout the first quarter and a half, but an old problem resurfaced. The Clippers couldn't stop fouling, sending Memphis to the foul line 17 times in the second quarter, leading to 13 points. The Clippers shot just one free throw in the quarter.

Memphis' lead grew to as many as 13 in the third quarter, before a comeback closed it to as little as four points in the fourth.

With the Clippers down five late, Memphs' Tayshaun Prince drained an open 3-pointer, helping the Grizzlies finish strong.

The Clippers had one last chance in the final 30 seconds when Mike Conley missed two free throws, but Gasol grabbed the offensive rebound and sank a pair of free throws to end all hope.

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